US Ambassador Sergio Gor Hails Air India's New Boeing 787-9 as 'Amazing'

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor congratulated Air India and Boeing on the arrival of the carrier's second made-for-Air India Boeing 787-9 aircraft, calling it "amazing". The aircraft, registered VT-AWB, arrived in Delhi on a non-stop flight from Boeing's Charleston facility. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson highlighted the airline's transformation, noting that three more 787-9s and two A350-1000s are expected this year. Wilson projected a huge transformation in Air India's long-haul wide-body fleet through 2027 and 2028.

Key Points: US Ambassador Praises Air India's New Boeing 787-9

  • US Ambassador Sergio Gor praises Air India's new Boeing 787-9
  • Second made-for-Air India 787-9 arrives in Delhi from Charleston
  • Air India CEO Campbell Wilson outlines fleet modernization plans
  • Air India to add 20 widebody aircraft by 2027-2028
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US Ambassador Gor lauds Air India's New Boeing 787-9, calls it 'amazing'

US Ambassador Sergio Gor lauds Air India's second made-for-Air India Boeing 787-9, calling it 'amazing'. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson discusses fleet transformation.

"Looks amazing! Congrats @airindia @Boeing. - US Ambassador Sergio Gor"

New Delhi, May 17

The US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, on Sunday congratulated Air India and Boeing on the arrival of the carrier's second made-for-Air India Boeing 787-9 aircraft, calling it "amazing."

The brand-new Boeing 787-9, registered VT-AWB, arrived in Delhi on Friday on a non-stop flight from Boeing's Charleston facility.

Retweeting Air India's post, Ambassador Gor stated, "Looks amazing! Congrats @airindia @Boeing."

Air India's post read: "Landed and looking stunning! [?] The second made-for-Air India Boeing 787-9, bearing registration mark VT-AWB, just touched down in Delhi after a non-stop flight from Charleston, United States. This brand-new aircraft sporting Air India's new livery is a part of our effort to upgrade our widebody fleet and deliver a world-class premium experience to our guests on long-haul routes. taken moments before departure from Charleston."

Earlier in Janurary, Air India ushered in a significant new chapter in its transformation journey with the arrival of its first line-fit Boeing 787-9, custom-built for the airline, at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

The aircraft, registered as VT-AWA, completed a non-stop ferry flight of 16 hours and 58 minutes from Boeing's Everett factory in Washington state.

Speaking on the same, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson highlighted that the airline is entering a pivotal phase with the introduction of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, specifically designed and built for the carrier.

"So this year is a real year of transformation for Air India. We have the first of these line-fit 787 Dreamliners coming. We have three more coming this year, two more A350 1000s towards the end of the year," he told ANI.

Wilson mentioned that it was wonderful to show it to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. According to Wilson, "This year, we're going to see at least 20 of these world-class widebody aircraft operating the Air India fleet to Europe, to East Asia, to Australia, and more to come... Certainly, in 2027 and 2028, we see a huge transformation in the Air India long-haul wide-body fleet. The domestic fleet has already been nearly entirely upgraded. So it means a better product for people, a higher business class cabin to accommodate more corporate traffic"

Wilson projected a huge transformation in the Air India long-haul wide-body fleet through 2027 and 2028. The airline also begins taking delivery of retrofitted legacy aircraft, specifically the 787-8s, as part of its fleet modernisation strategy.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Both the US Ambassador and Air India seem thrilled about this. I flew on an older Air India 787 last year and the experience was decent but not premium. If these new line-fit planes deliver on the 'world-class premium experience' promise, it could finally put Air India back on the map for international travellers.
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Priya S
The plane looks stunning indeed! But I hope Air India's management remembers that the real transformation isn't just about shiny new planes - it's about on-time performance, better food, and consistent service. Flying DEL-LHR last month, the cabin crew was wonderful but the catering was a letdown. Let's see if the new fleet comes with upgraded service standards too.
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Michael C
Great to see Tata Group investing heavily in Air India's fleet. With 20 new widebodies joining by 2027-28 as per CEO Campbell Wilson's projections, Air India could seriously compete with Gulf carriers on long-haul. The A350-1000 orders are particularly exciting - that's premium cabin territory.
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Vikram M
All this talk about new planes is good, but as a frequent flyer, I want to see consistency in service. We've seen before how new aircraft get delivered but the ground handling and onboard service remain patchy. The 'premium experience' needs to cover everything from check-in to baggage claim. Hope they've trained the staff accordingly.
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James A
As an aviation enthusiast, I'm thrilled to see the new 787-9s with the updated livery landing in India. The 16-hour non-stop from Charleston is impressive. This is a strong signal that Air India is serious about reclaiming its position among global carriers.

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